Man shot dead while fleeing police on Sask. reserve

RCMP Supt. Randy Beck is concerned about number of police shootings in Saskatchewan. ((Niall McKenna/CBC))

Police shot and killed a man after a foot chase on a northern Saskatchewan First Nation on Tuesday.

Two officers from the RCMP detachment in La Loche went to a home on the Clearwater River Dene First Nation at about 8 p.m. with a warrant for a man's arrest, police said. Sources in the community told CBC News that officers were looking for two men in the house.

The sources said both men fled the residence and officers gave chase on foot. One of the RCMP officers caught up with Harry Haineault, 38.

Then there was a "physical altercation which escalated to the point where the RCMP member used lethal force," police said in a news release, adding Haineault died at the scene.

Terry Lemaigre, Haineault`s cousin, told CBC News that he believes his relative was not armed, but he is not sure of all the facts because police have restricted access to the area and have not been sharing information.